Aikido as a way of life.

A challenge for now, can I be a warrior for compassion and kindness when I feel like the universe conspires to hold me down? I see those thoughts march by and chuckle to myself “Let’s pick another story for these feelings.” Let’s practice our practice no matter what thoughts and feelings arise from the fecundity of our humanness. Let’s reap the rewards of our practice. It is here and now and true.

To claim one's warrior spirit; to be totally present to what is now, is the purpose of aikido training. Techniques, weapons training, group exercises and meditations are all vehicles to summon and then challenge our warrior spirit. Challenge yourself to be ever in the now.  Watch your thoughts and feelings. Let them pass unfettered by anchoring stories. Let the distractions float into the ether to join the millions of other un-tethered nothings that matter not. All that matters is what is, and now.

Good day: I wish you all a bright, inspired  new year. Ron and I are still training 3 days a week. I want to extend this invitation to all of you to come and train when you can. If you are having roadblocks with money or time or life issues I just want to  reassure you that we would love to see you.  We can work out any situation. Ron and I would like to continue training until we no longer can and would love to have you join us. Please contact me if you have any questions. concerns or suggestions. See you on the mat, Mary

Thursday at 6:30 PM, January 2, 2014 we will have our first class of the new year. So what's new? Nothing and everything. We have had about 2 weeks off. Just enough to make me antsy...I get a little weird when I don't train. Aikido is a mood stabilizer for me. I can feel like beetle poop when class starts and when it ends I am smiling and happy... relaxed as a new born. Speaking of newborns, Princess Muffin is no longer that...she is something else. She is still the same yet totally different just as we will be on this new year...new day...new class...new me.

I  was going to do weapons for warm-ups yesterday morning. Dora broke her wrist in early August and has been on the mat since we re-opened on September, 2nd. Wanting to be inclusive I got out the swimmy noodles that are cut in half and we did weapons warm-ups with the noodles in place of bokkens. We then broke up into partners and each couple made up a noodle kata consisting of 3 strikes and 3 counters. As I worked with my partner I kept an eye and ear on the rest of the class. Everyone was busy and happy. Just before class ended we demonstrated our little katas again. We all pretty much remembered them. This class was made up of all 3rd Dan and above but the idea could be modified for any and all levels of practice.

Two situations happened this week. I wasn't wearing a gi and or a hakama for either yet I like to think I was practicing Aikido during each one. Aikido is the martial art that emphasizes least possible harm as we defend ourselves. 1. Drunky guy came up on my 2 grandsons, my daughter and I while we waiting for the balloon clown to make a red balloon dog for Tony at Summerfest. Drunky guy slurs..."Hi Mary. How are ya?.. and moves in for a hug. I extended my arm and said "NO Hugs."...with a smile. He bounced back before touching my extended hand..."NO Hugs?" he mumbled looking astonished. I said firmly, "No hugging." while still smiling...he said, " I will be in to pay soon". I said, "Okay, nice to see you." and he shambled away. My daughter said," Who was that?" I said, "Storage customer." and she said, "Wow, you handled that well. 2. Angry storage customer starts swearing and cursing at me beca...

Training for life is quite a commitment. We get to run into ourselves often: injuries, classes where only one or two students show up, ego, rank, whether to stay with a teacher or wander about on our own. We train through times when life is easy and life gets difficult. Long drives, economic worries, issues with other students or teachers... these situations can all seem like reasons to stop...along with having to train with limitatations because of age or a long term injury. Job changes, family commitments, complacency, boredom...people stop training for all sorts of reasons. For me the best way to honor this commitment that I have is to train one class at a time. God willing and the creek don't rise... I will be on the mat on Saturday morning...10:00 A. M sharp...cause I am teaching first.